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Drug rash, drug
eruption, rash as a medication side effect
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- An exanthem is a rash on the skin. An enanthem is a rash on a mucous membrane, such as the lining of the mouth.
- A drug rash on the skin would therefore be a drug exanthem.
- The word "drug" is being used to refer to any medication.
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- Itching
- There is a wide spectrum of rash characteristics, but a common appearance is a red rash that blanches on local pressure.
- Hives
- The rash tends to spread if the drug is not discontinued.
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- An antigen-antibody reaction that is a reaction to the medication being used
- Medications in common use that are known to cause a rash in a small percentage of people:
- Penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin
- Sulfa drugs (Bactrim, Septra)
- Iodine
- Anticonvulsants
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- History of medication use
- Discontinuing the medication may alleviate the rash with certainty.
- There is no set of characteristics that defines a drug rash with certainty.
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- Patients with an allergic tendency
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- Discontinue the medication
- Anti-pruritic medication orally or topically
- Steroids are sometimes used.
- H2 blockers, such as Zantac, are sometimes used.
- Epinephrine (adrenalin) is sometimes used.
- Emergency room treatment and advanced life support for severe cases
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- Damage to the skin and soft tissue beneath the skin
- Superimposed Skin Infection
- Systemic symptoms (breathing difficulty, swelling in the larynx/trachea, wheezing, hypotension, shock) might occur in addition to the skin rash or Hives.
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- Consult your physician and discontinue the next dose of the drug temporarily while awaiting a callback from your physician.
- Do not permanently discontinue the drug unless advised to do so by your physician.
- Call 911 or an emergency room if the symptoms are severe or the rash is dramatically spreading.
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- Rash due to infectious disease
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